GILROY—Christopher exploded right out of the gate, scoring six runs in the first inning of its 8-3 victory over crosstown rivals Gilroy Friday at Gavilan College.
The Cougars win the season series—and bragging rights—2-1, having beat the Mustangs 12-7 on March 27. Gilroy won the second meeting, 7-4, on April 14.
With bases loaded and no outs Cougars’ Gordon Papalias hit a grounder that found a hole between second and first base to score the first run of the game. Two batters later, Bryan Easton helped his own cause with a single to right field to bring in two more runs. Richard Rios continued moving the line with a single to bring in the fourth run of the inning. Justin Nelson scored the last two runs with two outs in the inning with a single to center field.
“We were on him (Gilroy pitcher Alex Benavides) early and throughout the game our goal was to stay on him and hit the fastball and get our count,” the Cougars’ Easton said.
Mustangs pitcher Alex Benavides second guessed his pitch selection after the game, saying what he tossed may have made it easy for the Cougars to hit.
“I think I was throwing too many strikes in the first inning,” Benavides said. “They were just swinging and they were hitting it—hitting it hard.”
Easton was stellar on the bump and at the plate as he pitched six innings allowing two runs—neither earned—while contributing with two RBIs. He finished the game 2 for 4.
“Bryan (Easton) has been throwing well for us,” Christopher coach Ryan Dequin said. “He answered the call once again.”
Nelson and Rios also helped the Cougars’ offense as both went 2 for 3 in the game.
Trailing 6-0, Gilroy answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first. Gilroy had two runners on, thanks to errors by the Cougar defense. Benavides sent both runners home, hitting a two-RBI single to centerfield, cutting the lead to 6-2.
Benavides finished 1 for 3 at the plate and pitched five innings before he was replaced by Jimmy Lemberger.
“(Benavides had) a little struggle to start,” Mustang coach Billy Holler said. “(Christopher) put up six runs and if he doesn’t (allow) that it’s a different baseball game.”
Christopher struck again in the fifth for two more runs. A heads up play by Nick Fortino allowed him to score from second when Gilroy’s Benavides threw to first base checking on runner, but the throw was off and it got passed first baseman. The error on Benavides also allowed Rios to advance from first to third. The next batter, Nelson, hit a sacrifice fly to center to add his third RBI of the night, putting the Cougars ahead 8-2.
Gilroy scored its final run in the seventh off a Justin Hale single.
“It’s always a big rivalry playing Gilroy,” Dequin said. “The kids came out and they played. They did what they needed to do to win today.”
Christopher (13-11 overall, 9-7 in league) has two games left in the regular season. It will take on the Haybalers at 4 p.m. Tuesday in San Benito before playing its home finale at 4 p.m. Thursday against Monterey.
Gilroy (6-20 overall, 3-16 in league) will wrap up its season at 4 p.m. Thursday at Salinas High.
